Park upgrade plans move ahead

Detailed plans to upgrade Williams Park are being prepared, following public submissions on the initial plan, and a change of staff at Hutt City Council.

Landscape Architect Charles Fordham was consulted on the plans, the early stages of which were presented at last month’s Eastbourne Community Board meeting.

Extensive public consultation in 2021 resulted in more than 180 submissions from the public, with many focused on access between the beach and the park, as well as vehicle access to the park and car parking.

HCC parks planner Nicole Peurifoy said one focus of the plan was the duck pond which is not very accessible nor safe for viewing. A raised path by the duck pond, as well as substantial work to stop it overflowing when deluged with stormwater, were part of the concept plan.

The Kererū Road section was underutilised, with many visitors to Days Bay unaware there was a large grassed area and tennis courts there. Connection between the two areas would be improved, and the hedge lowered or replaced to make the park more visible. The entrance and exit from Williams Park were dangerous, and the plan included a single point of entry via Marine Drive, and, following discussion at the meeting, a single point of exit via Kererū Road.

HCC Head of Parks and Reserves Kelly Crandle said $500,000 was the amount budgeted for the project, $30,000 of which had already been spent on the demolition of the caretaker’s cottage.

The next stage was detailed design and procurement which could be completed by Christmas "but we are not committing to that".

With Days Bay a popular summer visitor spot, timing for works would be crucial.

One of the key areas was stormwater overflows from the duck pond. “It’s substandard and needs design work to get a much better solution. It’s invisible to the public but really important still,” Mrs Crandle said.

Harbour Ward councillor Tui Lewis asked if the upkeep of the park was included in the budget. Mrs Crandle said that was an operational rather than capital expenditure and HCC would need to cut somewhere else if the operational budget for Williams Park was increased. Operational budgets are funded by rates.

ECB member Bruce Spedding asked where bikes would go as there was no provision for them either to pass through he park, or to park up. That was part of the planning for Tupua Horo Nuku rather than the park upgrade, he was told. However, Hutt City Council has since confirmed the scope of Tupua Horo Nuku does not include Days Bay. HCC will assess Days Bay as part of the speed management programme in 2024.

Cyclists using Tupua Horo Nuku will carry on through Marine Drive to get back onto the shared pathway north and south of Days Bay. "The Williams Park upgrade is primarily for families and recreational purposes rather than cyclists," a HCC spokesperson said.

The board recommended that the Communities, Culture and Partnerships Committee approves the plan with provision for a one-way entrance and one-way exit.

Work on a Kororā sanctuary on the beach next to HW Shortt Park is under way, the first of five bird sanctuaries planned in response to the construction of Tupua Horo Nuku.

Sanctuaries are also planned for Robinson Bay and Whiorau Reserve with one for Oystercatchers planned for Sorrento Bay. The plans for Whiorau Reserve are being revised following input from penguin experts and will be released for public consultation in June. Plans for CL Bishop Park and Sorrento Bay are currently being developed and will be made available for public consultation later in the year.